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Court returns seized booze to couple

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PITEA, Sweden, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- A Swedish court has returned more than 700 gallons of beer and liquor to a couple who had been accused of smuggling the booze into the country from Germany.

The court tossed the charges against the Pitea, Sweden, couple and ordered the booze be returned after their defense team argued that bringing the alcohol into Sweden from Germany was not a crime because it was marked for personal use, The Local reported Wednesday.

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The couple said the 711.2 gallons of beer, 7.1 gallons of wine and 1.1 gallons of hard liquor confiscated from their minivan by customs officials had been purchased for their son's approaching 40th birthday party, the wife's 60th birthday party, their daughter's wedding, a friend's 70th birthday party and a New Year's party.

Prosecutors had alleged the pair had engaged in a systematic operation to smuggle and distribute the alcohol. They were seeking prison sentences for the couple.

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